St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects
Offset gabled volumes form a new classroom and play area at this infant school in Oxfordshire, England, by local firm Jessop and Cook Architects (+ slideshow).
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_3.jpg)
Jessop and Cook Architects designed the adjoining buildings with the same profile, but shifted the timber play area sideways from the brick classroom.
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_2.jpg)
"The different materials for the covered external canopy help create a warm friendly feel to the place and help define the spaces," project architect Dan Wadsworth told Dezeen. "We didn't want to just tack on a canopy and felt continuing to use brick would be too heavy and overbearing."
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_5.jpg)
Covered in cedar shingles on the outside and clad with stained planks of the same wood inside, the timber structure provides a sheltered outdoor play area open to the playground. "We created a small enclosed secret garden for the children to play in," said Wadsworth.
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_6.jpg)
Windows in the roof let in extra light, as well as the gap at the back where the two structures misalign.
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_4.jpg)
Glass doors fold back to merge the play space with the classroom, which is normally entered from a door on the other side of the timber building.
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_8.jpg)
Low wooden partitions house toys and learning materials for the 30 pupils, plus break up the single room to make smaller zones for different activities.
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_7.jpg)
Steps in a back corner sit below a lowered portion of ceiling to create a small performance space. Additional teaching rooms and bathrooms are located at the back of the bulding.
![St Mary's Infant School by Jessop and Cook Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/08/dezeen_St-Marys-Infant-School-by-Jessop-and-Cook-Architects_1.jpg)
Other primary schools we've featured include a modern version of traditional Japanese schoolhouse in Tokyo and one in The Hague that snakes around its site like a crocodile.
Photographs are by Nikhilesh Haval.
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